Published 1:00 pm, Tuesday, April 5, 2011

CANYON - A couple of unexpected challengers passed Plainview in the District 3-4A boys golf race, and the Bulldogs only have 18 holes left to catch them.

Plainview shot a 340 - 37 shots higher than it did in the first round a week earlier at its home course - and dropped from second place to fourth after Monday's second district round at Palo Duro Creek Golf Course. Both Frenship "B" and Dumas overtook the Dogs, but not by much.

Coach Mike Lewis figured Canyon and Randall would be the schools his team would have to fend off to earn one of the two regional-qualifying spots, especially since Monday's round was in Canyon. But after both the Eagles and Raiders shot 311 in the first round in Plainview, Canyon could only shoot a 340 Monday to match Plainview's score, while Randall came in at 350.

However, Frenship's "B" team, after posting a 315 in round one, shot a 321 Monday for a 636 total while Dumas shot a 323 on the heels of its opening 318 for a 641 total.

The Bulldogs trail Frenship "B" by seven shots and Dumas by just two. Frenship "A," after rounds of 285 at Plainview and 323 in Canyon, is running away with first place at 608.

"We wanted to at least maintain our lead over Canyon and Randall playing on their home course. We did good there, but we let two teams in that second wave catch up to us and pass us," Lewis said of Frenship "B" and Dumas.

The Demons got help from one player who, after struggling to a 110 at Plainview's course, improved to an 83 Monday.

Lewis said his team "is still in good shape" going into the final round at John Pittman Golf Course in Hereford next Tuesday.

"We're only seven (shots behind Frenship ‘B'), so we're still in the hunt," he said. "We can't worry about other people. If we take care of business and do what we're supposed to do, we'll be OK."

Individually for Plainview, Matt Jolly shot an 83 Monday and is tied for seventh place with a 158 total, five shots out of third place. Jacob Rogers (87) is two strokes behind Jolly while Trent Kinkaid (86) is two behind Rogers and Thomas Wirth (84) one behind Kinkaid. Tim Gonzales (93) rounds out the PHS team.

The top two teams and top two individuals not on regional-qualifying teams advance to regionals.